[nysbirds-l] Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn 12/14/12 BLPW
A very late BLACKPOLL WARBLER was at Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn today. I saw the bird briefly last Sunday, 12/9, but only got good confirming views (and a couple of poor photos) today. The bird was near the east corner of the park in the brushy, wooded strip between the tip of the basin and the Six Diamonds ball fields, associated with a flock of mostly typical winter songbirds that also included a NASHVILLE WARBLER. The Blackpoll was feeding low among weed stalks and stubble, often on the ground, but actively moving about. It was fairly bright olive-green above, with dark streaks on the back; white wing bars and edging on tertials and wingtips. Yellowish through face and breast, with indistinct streaking on sides, and dark line through the eye. White undertail coverts; yellow feet. This is later than any NY state record shown in eBird. The species is a long-range migrant, wintering in South America; there were a number of late reports in the immediate post-Sandy period, and it might be that this individual was part of that fallout. Also of note was a flock of 11 RED CROSSBILLS feeding in a small stand of cone-laden pines near the drive-in entrance in the newly renovated area along Shore Parkway. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn 12/14/12 BLPW
A very late BLACKPOLL WARBLER was at Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn today. I saw the bird briefly last Sunday, 12/9, but only got good confirming views (and a couple of poor photos) today. The bird was near the east corner of the park in the brushy, wooded strip between the tip of the basin and the Six Diamonds ball fields, associated with a flock of mostly typical winter songbirds that also included a NASHVILLE WARBLER. The Blackpoll was feeding low among weed stalks and stubble, often on the ground, but actively moving about. It was fairly bright olive-green above, with dark streaks on the back; white wing bars and edging on tertials and wingtips. Yellowish through face and breast, with indistinct streaking on sides, and dark line through the eye. White undertail coverts; yellow feet. This is later than any NY state record shown in eBird. The species is a long-range migrant, wintering in South America; there were a number of late reports in the immediate post-Sandy period, and it might be that this individual was part of that fallout. Also of note was a flock of 11 RED CROSSBILLS feeding in a small stand of cone-laden pines near the drive-in entrance in the newly renovated area along Shore Parkway. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Prospect Park, Brooklyn 11/16/12
A female EVENING GROSBEAK was a first for me in Prospect today, seen briefly perched above the Binnen Bridge. There did not appear to be much diurnal movement going on, but other birds included EASTERN MEADOWLARK, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and my first of season AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Nov 16, 2012 54 species Canada Goose 5 Mute Swan 9 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 75 Northern Shoveler 150 Bufflehead 1 (Female.) Hooded Merganser 5 Ruddy Duck 50 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Red-tailed Hawk 5 American Coot 15 Ring-billed Gull 100 Herring Gull 20 Great Black-backed Gull 2 Rock Pigeon 25 Mourning Dove 30 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 5 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Peregrine Falcon 2 Blue Jay 20 American Crow 20 Fish Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 20 Tufted Titmouse 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 7 Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Wren 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Hermit Thrush 6 American Robin 25 European Starling 100 American Tree Sparrow 1 (Fallkill meadow, FoS.) Fox Sparrow 5 Song Sparrow 4 Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 50 Dark-eyed Junco 25 Northern Cardinal 30 Red-winged Blackbird 7 Eastern Meadowlark 1 (Nethermead, 8:00 AM; intent on feeding, unusually tolerant of dogs but eventually flushed to treetops, called a few times, and flew over Quaker Ridge. Photographed.) Rusty Blackbird 1 (Vale of Cashmere.) Common Grackle 1 Purple Finch 2 (Feeders.) House Finch 20 Pine Siskin 30 American Goldfinch 75 Evening Grosbeak 1 (Female, flying over Binnen Bridge to perch briefly in treetop, 8:45 AM; only seen from underneath. Large, plain, big-headed, finch-type bird; big, pale, cardinal-sized bill, short, notched tail with white spots on underside. Flew north, showing white patches in wings. Photographed.) House Sparrow 10 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Prospect Park, Brooklyn 11/16/12
A female EVENING GROSBEAK was a first for me in Prospect today, seen briefly perched above the Binnen Bridge. There did not appear to be much diurnal movement going on, but other birds included EASTERN MEADOWLARK, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and my first of season AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Nov 16, 2012 54 species Canada Goose 5 Mute Swan 9 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 75 Northern Shoveler 150 Bufflehead 1 (Female.) Hooded Merganser 5 Ruddy Duck 50 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Red-tailed Hawk 5 American Coot 15 Ring-billed Gull 100 Herring Gull 20 Great Black-backed Gull 2 Rock Pigeon 25 Mourning Dove 30 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 5 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Peregrine Falcon 2 Blue Jay 20 American Crow 20 Fish Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 20 Tufted Titmouse 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 7 Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Wren 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Hermit Thrush 6 American Robin 25 European Starling 100 American Tree Sparrow 1 (Fallkill meadow, FoS.) Fox Sparrow 5 Song Sparrow 4 Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 50 Dark-eyed Junco 25 Northern Cardinal 30 Red-winged Blackbird 7 Eastern Meadowlark 1 (Nethermead, 8:00 AM; intent on feeding, unusually tolerant of dogs but eventually flushed to treetops, called a few times, and flew over Quaker Ridge. Photographed.) Rusty Blackbird 1 (Vale of Cashmere.) Common Grackle 1 Purple Finch 2 (Feeders.) House Finch 20 Pine Siskin 30 American Goldfinch 75 Evening Grosbeak 1 (Female, flying over Binnen Bridge to perch briefly in treetop, 8:45 AM; only seen from underneath. Large, plain, big-headed, finch-type bird; big, pale, cardinal-sized bill, short, notched tail with white spots on underside. Flew north, showing white patches in wings. Photographed.) House Sparrow 10 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn 11/3/12
There was a strong flight today, as observed from Calvert Vaux Park, at the mouth of Coney Island Creek in Brooklyn. Blackbirds were moving in good numbers, as well as finches, pipits, bluebirds, robins, etc. After spending much of the morning with flyover birds, I found an unusually well-mixed flock at the Six Diamonds ball fields, where at least 14 species were seen feeding on the ground, including LAPLAND LONGSPUR, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and PINE WARBLER. Notable for this late date was a WOOD-PEWEE, presumably Eastern, and a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. Checking the bay at the end of the day I turned up a NORTHERN GANNET, and in the process flushed a NELSON’S SPARROW. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn Dreier-Offerman Park, Kings, US-NY Nov 3, 2012 75 species Brant 400 Canada Goose 75 Mute Swan 2 Wood Duck 1 (Female.) Gadwall 5 American Wigeon 10 American Black Duck 30 Mallard 15 Black Scoter 1 Bufflehead 10 Ruddy Duck 1 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Northern Gannet 1 (Adult, over bay, 5:00 PM.) Double-crested Cormorant 30 Great Blue Heron 3 Black-crowned Night-Heron 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 Cooper's Hawk 4 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Coot 1 Killdeer 20 Laughing Gull 30 Ring-billed Gull 30 Herring Gull 40 Great Black-backed Gull 10 Black Skimmer 16 (Flock flying around in the Creek mouth.) Rock Pigeon 20 Mourning Dove 10 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 15 American Kestrel 5 Peregrine Falcon 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 (Along basin edge near barges. Long wingtips reaching half way down tail; stronger wing bars; no tail pumping, compared to nearby Phoebe. Late date.) Eastern Phoebe 4 Blue Jay 10 American Crow 8 Tree Swallow 5 Black-capped Chickadee 20 Tufted Titmouse 7 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Eastern Bluebird 25 (Early flyover flock; multiple birds on Six Diamonds side and in NE corner.) Hermit Thrush 4 American Robin 200 Northern Mockingbird 2 European Starling 100 American Pipit 30 (25 on the west field + flyovers.) Cedar Waxwing 15 Lapland Longspur 1 (With mixed flock on Six Diamonds fields, 2:00 PM. Called when it flew off.) Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 (First fall female on eastern strip. Plain olive above, pale yellowish below, pale eye arcs, dark bill, no white on wing edge. Late date.) Palm Warbler 4 Pine Warbler 1 (WIth mixed flock on SIx Diamonds fields; fairly bright.) Yellow-rumped Warbler 150 Field Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 3 Nelson's Sparrow 1 (At west tip of 44th St. field, 5:00 PM; costal type.) Fox Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 10 Swamp Sparrow 5 White-throated Sparrow 50 Dark-eyed Junco 40 Northern Cardinal 4 Red-winged Blackbird 1000 Rusty Blackbird 1 (Male, with mixed flock on Six Diamonds fields.) Common Grackle 400 Brown-headed Cowbird 25 Purple Finch 30 House Finch 2 Pine Siskin 30 American Goldfinch 100 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Prospect Park Barnacle Goose 10/24/12 Brooklyn
A BARNACLE GOOSE was on the Lake in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park today. It was first seen with a group of Canada Geese along the Peninsula shore at about 10:30 am, not long after a rain shower let up. Being without a field guide, and unexperienced with the species, I gave a description to Doug Gochfeld by phone, and he said it sounded good. Later observed on land, it showed no bands or missing toes; I believe that recent analysis of vagrant goose occurrence patterns suggests that most are probably legitimate wild birds. According to subsequent postings the bird was still present to this evening. A few pictures are posted at: http://www.digitalmediatree.com/arboretum/barnacle/ Other birds of note in Prospect included two VESPER SPARROWS among continued good numbers of sparrows, continued PINE SISKINS, and a NASHVILLE WARBLER. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Oct 24, 2012 64 species (+1 other taxa) Barnacle Goose 1 (On Lake by Peninsula shore with 20 CAGO at 10:30 am after rain shower. Then the flock swam across the lake to feed on shore near Three Sisters Islands where seen later. Like Brant with white face, but stockier, with shorter, thick neck. Crisp black and white with barring on wings/back creating silvery effect. Small, triangular black bill, with black extending around eyes. Blackish legs and feet; no bands, hallux intact. Photographed.) Canada Goose 100 Mute Swan 4 Wood Duck 3 American Black Duck 2 Mallard 80 American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 2 Northern Shoveler 25 Ruddy Duck 20 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Coot 6 Ring-billed Gull 5 Herring Gull 20 Rock Pigeon 30 Mourning Dove 15 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 5 Hairy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 20 American Kestrel 1 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Eastern Phoebe 5 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 30 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 8 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Wren 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 15 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15 Hermit Thrush 45 (Abundant; on lawns as well as wooded areas.) American Robin 75 Gray Catbird 3 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 150 Nashville Warbler 1 (Breeze Hill. Probably male with fairly bright yellow underneath and into throat; blue-gray hood with complete eye ring; small and flighty with fine bill.) Palm Warbler 15 Yellow-rumped Warbler 50 Eastern Towhee 5 Chipping Sparrow 50 Vesper Sparrow 2 (Breeze Hill in am; Long Meadow ball fields in pm.) Savannah Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 15 Swamp Sparrow 8 White-throated Sparrow 100 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 60 Northern Cardinal 15 Red-winged Blackbird 50 Common Grackle 200 (A few blackbird flocks early and after rain; mostly grackles.) Brown-headed Cowbird 15 Purple Finch 1 House Finch 4 Pine Siskin 25 (Flyby flock from Breeze Hill; a few on Lookout.) American Goldfinch 40 House Sparrow 15 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn - CT Warbler
A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was at Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn today, in the strip between the Six Diamonds ball fields and the tidal basin. It was a first for me at the park, though there are at least three records over the last five years, all from the same general area as today’s sighting. Some passing Bobolinks and my first Palm Warblers of the season were also of note. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn - CT Warbler
A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was at Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn today, in the strip between the Six Diamonds ball fields and the tidal basin. It was a first for me at the park, though there are at least three records over the last five years, all from the same general area as today’s sighting. Some passing Bobolinks and my first Palm Warblers of the season were also of note. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Dickcissel
A DICKCISSEL (female/juvenile male type plumage) was at the northeast corner of Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn early Sunday morning. The bird was active around a semi-circular steel bench at the end of a path near the “wetland” channel in this recently reopened section of the park. Otherwise, activity was relatively low. At Owl’s Head Park on Saturday a brief sky watch at dusk produced a single COMMON NIGHTHAWK. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Dickcissel
A DICKCISSEL (female/juvenile male type plumage) was at the northeast corner of Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn early Sunday morning. The bird was active around a semi-circular steel bench at the end of a path near the “wetland” channel in this recently reopened section of the park. Otherwise, activity was relatively low. At Owl’s Head Park on Saturday a brief sky watch at dusk produced a single COMMON NIGHTHAWK. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn
There was a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at Calvert Vaux Park today. The morning rain brought down some shorebirds, Kingbirds, and BOBOLINKS, as well as a PURPLE MARTIN. I suppose the martins are in the area yearly, but I rarely see them; a sighting in 2009 was similarly weather-driven. I’ll take this opportunity to provide an update on the BLUE GROSBEAK pair previously reported in the area. The birds did indeed nest, perhaps an unprecedented event for Brooklyn. A chick was seen on 7/18, but unfortunately the nest had been destroyed by 7/21, which was the last time I saw the adults. I’ve posted some documentation at: http://www.digitalmediatree.com/arboretum/BLGR/ Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn Dreier-Offerman Park, Kings, US-NY Aug 18 Comments: Rain, sometimes heavy, through 9:30 am. 53 species (+2 other taxa) Canada Goose 3 Mute Swan 2 Mallard 10 Double-crested Cormorant 15 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 2 Snowy Egret 3 Green Heron 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron 6 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 2 Semipalmated Plover 20 Killdeer 6 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 (Came down to the fields in the rain.) Semipalmated Sandpiper 3 Least Sandpiper 1 (Heard among peeps taking off from field in rain.) peep sp. 25 (Group came down on the west fields during the rain.) Laughing Gull 30 Ring-billed Gull 10 Herring Gull 30 Great Black-backed Gull 5 Common Tern 35 Forster's Tern 2 Rock Pigeon 20 Mourning Dove 20 Chimney Swift 2 Belted Kingfisher 3 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 2 American Kestrel 1 Empidonax sp. 1 Eastern Kingbird 5 Warbling Vireo 1 American Crow 4 Purple Martin 1 (Juvenile, perched on lamppost during the rain. Photographed.) Tree Swallow 4 Barn Swallow 25 House Wren 1 Carolina Wren 2 American Robin 30 Gray Catbird 10 Northern Mockingbird 10 European Starling 150 Northern Waterthrush 3 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 4 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 (In brush on eastern wooded strip by Six Diamonds; good views.) Song Sparrow 15 Northern Cardinal 2 Bobolink 15 (Flock during the rain.) Red-winged Blackbird 30 Common Grackle 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 10 House Sparrow 15 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn
There was a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at Calvert Vaux Park today. The morning rain brought down some shorebirds, Kingbirds, and BOBOLINKS, as well as a PURPLE MARTIN. I suppose the martins are in the area yearly, but I rarely see them; a sighting in 2009 was similarly weather-driven. I’ll take this opportunity to provide an update on the BLUE GROSBEAK pair previously reported in the area. The birds did indeed nest, perhaps an unprecedented event for Brooklyn. A chick was seen on 7/18, but unfortunately the nest had been destroyed by 7/21, which was the last time I saw the adults. I’ve posted some documentation at: http://www.digitalmediatree.com/arboretum/BLGR/ Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn Dreier-Offerman Park, Kings, US-NY Aug 18 Comments: Rain, sometimes heavy, through 9:30 am. 53 species (+2 other taxa) Canada Goose 3 Mute Swan 2 Mallard 10 Double-crested Cormorant 15 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 2 Snowy Egret 3 Green Heron 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron 6 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 2 Semipalmated Plover 20 Killdeer 6 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 (Came down to the fields in the rain.) Semipalmated Sandpiper 3 Least Sandpiper 1 (Heard among peeps taking off from field in rain.) peep sp. 25 (Group came down on the west fields during the rain.) Laughing Gull 30 Ring-billed Gull 10 Herring Gull 30 Great Black-backed Gull 5 Common Tern 35 Forster's Tern 2 Rock Pigeon 20 Mourning Dove 20 Chimney Swift 2 Belted Kingfisher 3 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 2 American Kestrel 1 Empidonax sp. 1 Eastern Kingbird 5 Warbling Vireo 1 American Crow 4 Purple Martin 1 (Juvenile, perched on lamppost during the rain. Photographed.) Tree Swallow 4 Barn Swallow 25 House Wren 1 Carolina Wren 2 American Robin 30 Gray Catbird 10 Northern Mockingbird 10 European Starling 150 Northern Waterthrush 3 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Redstart 4 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 (In brush on eastern wooded strip by Six Diamonds; good views.) Song Sparrow 15 Northern Cardinal 2 Bobolink 15 (Flock during the rain.) Red-winged Blackbird 30 Common Grackle 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 10 House Sparrow 15 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Pelicans & CVP update
Three BROWN PELICANS were seen (and photographed) from Calvert Vaux Park this morning around 7 o’clock. They were soaring over the shoreline to the north, and eventually came down in the middle of Gravesend Bay, where they sat for 15 minutes before disappearing while I was distracted by some terns. This was a Brooklyn first for me. Also noteworthy in the vicinity is the continued presence of a pair of BLUE GROSEBEAKS, although no proof of nesting has been evident. Given the number of feral cats, loosed hunting dogs, fires, and other disturbances in the area, it’s impressive how many birds do breed in the park, with such regulars as Willow Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Indigo Bunting, and Orchard Oriole among those on hand today. Work on the park’s “improvement” continues, although the project will hopefully be curtailed due to budget constraints. Two artificial turf soccer fields have been installed and work is underway to “restore” the shore along the edge of the basin, a plan that is supposed to include a kayak launch in the tidal flat area. Some recent press criticism about the state of the park seems to have spurred the city to address the issue of squatters in the strip along the east side of the basin on the Six Diamonds side. The solution was rather heavy-handed: they bulldozed through the camps and garden plots long established in area, probably disturbing a lot of birds in the process. The strip currently looks like an open wound, but should fill in of its own accord, which may be preferable to more professional landscaping. If work is limited to what’s already underway, the park may end up retaining more of its character than was feared when the project was announced in 2007. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn Dreier-Offerman Park, Kings, US-NY Jul 14, 2012 48 species Mute Swan 2 Mallard 10 Double-crested Cormorant 15 Brown Pelican 3 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 3 Snowy Egret 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron 6 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 4 American Kestrel 4 Killdeer 2 Spotted Sandpiper 3 Least Sandpiper 1 Laughing Gull 35 Ring-billed Gull 5 Herring Gull 15 Great Black-backed Gull 10 Least Tern 2 Common Tern 5 Black Skimmer 9 Rock Pigeon 25 Mourning Dove 15 Chimney Swift 5 Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 1 Willow Flycatcher 3 Eastern Kingbird 1 Warbling Vireo 2 American Crow 10 Barn Swallow 15 Carolina Wren 2 House Wren 3 American Robin 30 Gray Catbird 15 Northern Mockingbird 3 European Starling 200 Common Yellowthroat 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 6 Northern Cardinal 3 Blue Grosbeak 2 Indigo Bunting 3 Red-winged Blackbird 60 Common Grackle 10 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Orchard Oriole 5 American Goldfinch 1 House Sparrow 40 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Pelicans CVP update
Three BROWN PELICANS were seen (and photographed) from Calvert Vaux Park this morning around 7 o’clock. They were soaring over the shoreline to the north, and eventually came down in the middle of Gravesend Bay, where they sat for 15 minutes before disappearing while I was distracted by some terns. This was a Brooklyn first for me. Also noteworthy in the vicinity is the continued presence of a pair of BLUE GROSEBEAKS, although no proof of nesting has been evident. Given the number of feral cats, loosed hunting dogs, fires, and other disturbances in the area, it’s impressive how many birds do breed in the park, with such regulars as Willow Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Indigo Bunting, and Orchard Oriole among those on hand today. Work on the park’s “improvement” continues, although the project will hopefully be curtailed due to budget constraints. Two artificial turf soccer fields have been installed and work is underway to “restore” the shore along the edge of the basin, a plan that is supposed to include a kayak launch in the tidal flat area. Some recent press criticism about the state of the park seems to have spurred the city to address the issue of squatters in the strip along the east side of the basin on the Six Diamonds side. The solution was rather heavy-handed: they bulldozed through the camps and garden plots long established in area, probably disturbing a lot of birds in the process. The strip currently looks like an open wound, but should fill in of its own accord, which may be preferable to more professional landscaping. If work is limited to what’s already underway, the park may end up retaining more of its character than was feared when the project was announced in 2007. Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn Dreier-Offerman Park, Kings, US-NY Jul 14, 2012 48 species Mute Swan 2 Mallard 10 Double-crested Cormorant 15 Brown Pelican 3 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 3 Snowy Egret 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron 6 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 4 American Kestrel 4 Killdeer 2 Spotted Sandpiper 3 Least Sandpiper 1 Laughing Gull 35 Ring-billed Gull 5 Herring Gull 15 Great Black-backed Gull 10 Least Tern 2 Common Tern 5 Black Skimmer 9 Rock Pigeon 25 Mourning Dove 15 Chimney Swift 5 Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 1 Willow Flycatcher 3 Eastern Kingbird 1 Warbling Vireo 2 American Crow 10 Barn Swallow 15 Carolina Wren 2 House Wren 3 American Robin 30 Gray Catbird 15 Northern Mockingbird 3 European Starling 200 Common Yellowthroat 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 6 Northern Cardinal 3 Blue Grosbeak 2 Indigo Bunting 3 Red-winged Blackbird 60 Common Grackle 10 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Orchard Oriole 5 American Goldfinch 1 House Sparrow 40 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
